"A household residing in the northern part of London seeks an remarkable and qualified educator to guide their smallest child on his initial journey to growing into an English gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might naturally skip the term "first-steps" as just a turn of phrase.
However, it may be the most significant part of this unique job advert, as it seeks to hire a mentor for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have already been submitted since the anonymous family posted their call for the £180,000 per year tutor, who needs to be "someone very special".
During the past few weeks, the listing has gained attention across the news, with numerous asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of an education consultancy, which is helping the family in their hunt, said that in spite of initial skepticism, he considered the plan "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they understood the unconventional aspect of their request, and how early in age their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
But what does the family mean by "cultural bias"?
It's "everything", Adam replied. "How you eat, the manner you speak".
He explained the older sibling had picked up "very nuanced, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural ways. The family told him they wished to avoid this pattern to repeat itself with their new baby.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who needs to speak with standard English accent, to influence the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A great deal of the development at the outset here is somewhat absorbed naturally," said the expert.
It's by means of this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will pick up the British traits they want to instil.
The consultant explained the tutor needed to be an individual who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family plan to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family told the expert the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, winter sports, creative fields and instrumental training so as to influence the child in a diverse set of hobbies.
Additionally though, he explained the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "horseback riding and starting an instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, helping their son become a "UK sophisticate" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's certainly a status symbol," he comments.
But, notwithstanding all this guidance in "English culture", might the child pick up alleged cultural bias from the multicultural family he is raised by in any case?
"Absolutely", said Adam. "The parents understand this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'we should try and let's go as soon as we can', because the cost of it is not relevant," he said.
Impractical
A number of in the tutoring industry who share those concerns.
Another CEO, head and founder of Blue Education, who supplies personal educators, stated that "the process of embracing two identities, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
He wrote that he had relocated from China to the UK at the time of childhood, and had been educated knowing and practicing both cultures. He progressed to be educated at the University of Cambridge.
"The idea that an individual can serve as a embodiment of English culture, a person who can somehow transfer the characteristics of a British gentleman upon a infant child, seems to me idealistic and unrealistic," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a typically British tutor from infancy will will not instantly create the outcome they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and nevertheless I have been fortunate enough to live several of the experiences they desire for their son."
He continued: "The fact is, self-identity can not be dictated from the outside; it must be chosen, and it must be internally driven."
Buying Britishness
Certainly, Britishness is something Adam thinks can be taught – and sold.
"In my view the situation that the global community holds us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
